The XR-Series crossovers from Ashly have a design goal of producing a crossover that is sonically accurate, is flexible enough to suit a wide variety of systems, and affords maximum protection for speakers and drivers. The XR1001 crossover is based upon a state-variable filter circuit, which guarantees that two adjacent frequency band outputs always remain in phase. The crossovers offer a number of useful features, including continuous tuning, a response control, and a unique output stage which maintains low noise at any level setting.

The unit can be run as a stereo 2-way, switchable to mono 3-way, 24dB per octave electronic crossover and is housed in a single rack space chassis. Also included are a 200:1 tuning range, output mute switches, and both 1/4" TRS phone and XLR connectors. The XR1001 features low distortion, active balanced inputs, a peak level indicator, a precision regulated power supply and protection against abnormal input or output conditions.

The response control adjusts the damping of the filter, affecting the response shape of the filters at the crossover point. The dial calibrations refer to the amount of attenuation effected by the filter at the crossover frequency, i.e., a setting of 3dB means that the filter's high-pass and low-pass outputs are each "rolled off 3dB at the crossover point". This describes a Butterworth filter response, or a gentle 3dB peak at the crossover point when the two filter output signals overlap.

To obtain a flat signal, or "Linkwitz-Riley" response through the crossover region on the XR1001, the response control should be set to "6". This attenuates each output of the filter by 6dB at the crossover point (two identical signals added together yield a +6dB increase). To obtain a notch at the crossover point, the response control should be turned down past "6". The purpose of this control is to help offset the inaccuracies inherent in typical loudspeakers, thereby helping you to achieve a flat system response.

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A well featured analogue crossoverHaving compared it to several other crossovers, the Ashly was a clear choice because while they all have the same fixed 24dB/octave crossover parameters, the one user adjustable parameter being the response gives the user the freedom to choose what type of crossover is implemented in their set up. This is a feature reminiscent of some expensive DSPs and to find it in such a relatively inexpensive analogue unit is excellent value. I couldn't be happier with its performance. As I'm using it with a high-end consumer AV receiver, the one additional thing which would've been nice is support for an external switching/trigger input which allows the power of the unit to be controlled externally, in this case by the AV receiver. A decent relay in my rack power strip as resolved this but for the not-so-technical user, it could be handy to have.